Brimscombe Port to get temporary use
It comes as part of Stroud District Council's budget
Temporary uses for Brimscombe Port will be considered as Stroud District Council has agreed to set aside £10,000 for it as part of the budget for the next financial year.
The District Council said late last year they are is still moving forward with the flagship project to redevelop the former inland port which dates back to the 1780s.
However, while they seek a new development partner who shares their vision for the site, councillors have agreed to set up a refreshed project boad to help guide the next phase.
The council will also explore temporary uses for the site so it can benefit the community while longer-term plans take shape.
Their budget for 2026/27 will also mean the household tax bill for services they provide will rise by 2.99 per cent.
This means their part of the full council tax bill will rise to £250.35 for a band D property up £7.27 on the current year.
The total bill households pay will be much higher as it will include Gloucestershire County Council, police and parish council tax where applicable.
The authority is also planning to spend almost £2m over the next two years on developing a new local plan which will set out where development can take place in the district.
Council leader Chloe Turner (G, Minchinhampton), who presented the report at the council meeting, said the changes in local government funding will mean a reduction in funding for rural councils.
“There has been a big shift of funding towards metropolitan areas where there is greater deprivation and need,” she said.
“That does mean we have to cope with the result of that.”
She explained the budget is for consideration to make changes later in the year as they were only informed on February 9 that they would get a lower level of funding than they had been expecting.
“Due to the late nature of these changes an additional adjustment support grant of £734,000 has been included in the settlement for 2026/27,” she added.
“There is a reduction in funding of just over £1m in both 2027/28 and 2028/29 in the final settlement.”
She also set out there would be £4.6m to help deliver projects as part of the council’s revised plan.
“I’m particularly pleased to see the climate and nature small grants, the adaptation funding, the extension of our economic development and tourism roles, continuation of support for the fantastic Stroud funding, crowdfunding project and meanwhile use at Brimscombe Port,” she said.
Cllr Turner also said the cost of local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire is being shared with 55 per cent being borne by Gloucestershire County Council and the remaining 45 per cent split among the districts.
She said Stroud District Council has been asked to set aside £2m for it and they will also allocate an extra £1.5m for costs incurred directly in the District Council where staff are seconded.
Labour councillor Terry Cook (Dursley) said he and his colleagues would be voting for the budget as doing otherwise would be irresponsible.
But he raised concerns about the lack of time to review the final settlement from the Government.
“The administration has committed to a revised budget for 2026/27, I welcome that,” he said.
“I think that is absolutely key to what we are doing.”
He said his group is trying to make sure the council takes the “careful steps forward” to be able to provide a good budget over the next three years.
The council approved the budget by 38 votes with six abstentions.